What does it mean to give "any of his seed unto Molech" in this passage?

Here, “seed” means a person’s own children. Giving a child to Molech was not just a small ritual or walking them between two fires. It points to handing a child over to an idol as a sacrifice, even to the point of burning them. This copied the cruel customs of nearby nations, who killed their own children to please their gods. God calls this murder and idolatry, and says it defiles his sanctuary and profanes his holy name. Because Israel’s children belonged to God, treating them this way was like trying to take from God what was his.

Why does God say he will "set my face against" certain people in this passage?

When God says, “I will set my face against that man,” it means he turns toward that person in anger and judgment, not in favor. Even if human courts fail to punish someone who sacrifices a child to Molech or turns to spirits and wizards, God says he himself will act. He will cut that person off from among the people, bringing their life to an early and fearful end. This shows that no one truly escapes by hiding sin or by weak judges looking the other way. If God’s face is against a person, they have God himself as their enemy rather than their helper.

Why is following familiar spirits and wizards called "going a whoring"?

The passage uses strong marriage language on purpose. God had taken Israel as his own people, like a husband takes a wife. To turn from trusting God and instead seek guidance or knowledge from people who deal with spirits and magic is to treat God like he is not enough. It is like a spouse leaving their marriage for someone else. That is why God calls it “going a whoring” after them. It is spiritual adultery, because people give honor and trust, which belong to God alone, to dark and lying powers instead.

What does "sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy" mean here?

In this passage, “sanctify yourselves” means separate yourselves from the sins just named and set your lives apart for God. They were to refuse idolatry, child sacrifice, and all dealings with spirits and magic, and instead obey God’s commands. To “be holy” is to be different from the nations, shaped by God’s ways instead of their own desires. God gives two reasons: he is the Lord their God, and he is the one who sanctifies them. He had already set them apart by bringing them near and giving them his laws, so they must now live in a way that fits what he has done.

Why was cursing father or mother punished by death in this passage?

Cursing father or mother here is not a careless slip, but a hard, spiteful rejection of parents in words and attitude. God had already told the people to fear and honor their parents. Parents are the ones through whom God gave them life and care. To curse them is to trample on both family order and God’s own authority. So this law treats it as a very serious sin that attacks the peace of the whole community. Saying, “his blood shall be upon him,” means the guilt is his own, and death is a just result, not an unfair punishment thrown on him by others.

What does "cut him off from among his people" mean in this passage?

“Cut him off from among his people” can point to God himself stepping in when human courts fail. For sins like giving children to Molech or turning to familiar spirits, God warns that if people hide their eyes and do not punish, he will bring a final, separating judgment. This could mean an early, sudden death that removes the sinner from the community. It also hints at a deeper loss of God’s favor and place among his people. The idea is that such sins are too serious to leave alone. Whether by lawful stoning or by God’s own hand, the person will not remain safely within Israel.

Who is included in these commands about Molech and sorcery, and why are strangers mentioned?

The passage is very clear: it applies to “the children of Israel” and also “the strangers that sojourn in Israel.” That means not only native-born Israelites, but foreigners living among them were bound to reject Molech worship and were not allowed to practice these things. Israel was meant to be a holy nation where God’s name and sanctuary were kept pure. Allowing a stranger to sacrifice a child to Molech or to deal in such dark practices would pollute the whole community. By including strangers, God shows that his standards for worship and life covered everyone inside Israel’s borders.

How are the people judged if they "hide their eyes" from Molech worship?

If people saw or knew about someone giving their child to Molech and chose to ignore it, they were not neutral. They were sharing in the guilt by silence. The passage says that if the people of the land hide their eyes and do not put the guilty one to death, then God will set his face against that man and his family and cut them off. Turning away instead of witnessing or judging rightly helps sin spread, and others are drawn into it. God treats such neglect as a serious offense, because it protects evil and puts his honor and the safety of the community at risk.

Lev.20.1

Leviticus 20:1

KJV

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

Punishments for Disobedience

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones.

And I will set my face against that man, and will cut him off from among his people; because he hath given of his seed unto Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name.

And if the people of the land do any ways hide their eyes from the man, when he giveth of his seed unto Molech, and kill him not:

Then I will set my face against that man, and against his family, and will cut him off, and all that go a whoring after him, to commit whoredom with Molech, from among their people.

¶ And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.

¶ Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God.

And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the Lord which sanctify you.

¶ For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him.

Cross References

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